Processes for forming multimetallic alloys and carbon-supported multimetallic alloys

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to processes for forming multimetallic alloys and carbon-supported multimetallic alloys. In an aspect, a process for forming carbon-supported PtNiCoRu nanoparticles is provided. The process includes forming a mixture comprising a platinum (Pt) metal source, a nickel (Ni) metal source, a cobalt (Co) metal source, a ruthenium (Ru) metal source, a carbon source, and a solvent. The process further includes heating the mixture at a temperature that is from about 80° C. to about 250° C. to form carbon-supported nanoparticles, the carbon-supported nanoparticles including a carbon support, and PtNiCoRu single phase alloy nanoparticles chemically bonded to the carbon support. Processes for forming carbon-supported PtNiCoRuFe nanoparticles are also provided. Processes for forming PtNiCoRu and PtNiCoRuFe alloy nanoparticles are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for forming carbon-supported PtNiCoRu nanoparticles, the process comprising:
 forming a mixture comprising a platinum (Pt) metal source, a nickel (Ni) metal source, a cobalt (Co) metal source, a ruthenium (Ru) metal source, a carbon source, and a solvent; and   heating the mixture at a temperature that is from about 80° C. to about 250° C. to form carbon-supported nanoparticles, the carbon-supported nanoparticles comprising:
 a carbon support; and 
 PtNiCoRu single phase alloy nanoparticles chemically bonded to the carbon support. 
   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of a monohydric alcohol, a polyhydric alcohol, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises a polyhydric alcohol selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon source comprises carbon black, carbon nanotube, carbon nanofiber, mesoporous carbon, carbon nanowire, acetylene black, graphite, graphene, graphene oxide, fullerene, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon source comprises a structure having graphitic bonds partially incorporating one or more heteroatoms. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more heteroatoms comprises oxygen. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the structure having graphitic bonds partially incorporating one or more heteroatoms comprises a nanotube, nanobud, fullerene, nano-peapod, endofullerene, nano-onion, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, lacey carbon, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A process for forming carbon-supported PtNiCoRuFe nanoparticles, the process comprising:
 forming a mixture comprising a platinum (Pt) metal source, a nickel (Ni) metal source, a cobalt (Co) metal source, a ruthenium (Ru) metal source, an iron (Fe) metal source, a carbon source, and a solvent; and   heating the mixture at a temperature that is from about 80° C. to about 250° C. to form carbon-supported nanoparticles, the carbon-supported nanoparticles comprising:
 a carbon support; and 
 PtNiCoRuFe single phase alloy nanoparticles chemically bonded to the carbon support. 
   
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the heating the mixture is performed by a one-step heating process comprising:
 heating at a temperature that is from about 170° C. to about 250° C. for about 6 hours to about 48 hours.   
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the heating the mixture is performed by a one-step heating process comprising:
 heating the mixture at a first temperature or a first temperature range that is from 50° C. to less than 110° C. for a first period; then   heating the mixture at a second temperature or a second temperature range that is from 110° C. to less than 170° C. for a second period; and then   heating the mixture at a third temperature or a third temperature range that is from 170° C. to 250° C. or less for a third period.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the solvent comprises a polyhydric alcohol. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the carbon source comprises carbon black, carbon nanotube, carbon nanofiber, mesoporous carbon, carbon nanowire, acetylene black, graphite, graphene, graphene oxide, fullerene, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon source comprises a structure having graphitic bonds partially incorporating oxygen atoms. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the structure having graphitic bonds partially incorporating one or more heteroatoms comprises a nanotube, nanobud, fullerene, nano-peapod, endofullerene, nano-onion, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, lacey carbon, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A process for forming multimetallic single phase alloy nanoparticles, the process comprising:
 forming a mixture comprising a platinum (Pt) metal source, a nickel (Ni) metal source, a cobalt (Co) metal source, a ruthenium (Ru) metal source, and a solvent in a reactor; and   heating the mixture in the reactor at a temperature that is from about 80° C. to about 250° C. while the reactor is pressurized from about 0.12 MPa to about 0.22 MPa to form multimetallic single phase alloy nanoparticles comprising Pt, Ni, Co, and Ru.   
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the multimetallic single phase alloy nanoparticles are PtNiCoRu nanoparticles; and   the PtNiCoRu nanoparticles consist of:
 from about 30 atomic % to about 50 atomic % of Pt based on a total atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, and Ru in the PtNiCoRu nanoparticles, the total atomic % not to exceed 100 atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, and Ru in the PtNiCoRu nanoparticles; 
 from about 9 atomic % to about 29 atomic % of Ni based on the total atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, and Ru in the PtNiCoRu nanoparticles; 
 from about 10 atomic % to about 30 atomic % of Co based on the total atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, and Ru in the PtNiCoRu nanoparticles; and 
 from about 11 atomic % to about 31 atomic % of Ru based on the total atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, and Ru in the PtNiCoRu nanoparticles. 
   
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the mixture further includes an iron metal source; and   the multimetallic single phase alloy nanoparticles further comprise Fe.   
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the multimetallic single phase alloy nanoparticles are PtNiCoRuFe nanoparticles; and   the PtNiCoRuFe nanoparticles consist of:
 from about 18 atomic % to about 32 atomic % of Pt based on a total atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, Ru, and Fe in the PtNiCoRuFe nanoparticles, the total atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, Ru, and Fe in the PtNiCoRuFe nanoparticles not to exceed 100 atomic %; 
 from about 20 atomic % to about 34 atomic % of Ni based on the total atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, Ru, and Fe in the PtNiCoRuFe nanoparticles; 
 from about 12 atomic % to about 26 atomic % of Co based on the total atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, Ru, and Fe in the PtNiCoRuFe nanoparticles; 
 from about 12 atomic % to about 24 atomic % of Ru based on the total atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, Ru, and Fe in the PtNiCoRuFe nanoparticles; and 
 from about 4 atomic % to about 16 atomic % of Fe based on the total atomic % of the Pt, Ni, Co, Ru, and Fe in the PtNiCoRuFe nanoparticles. 
   
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the solvent comprises a glycol. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19 , wherein the glycol is selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, and combinations thereof.